In a gripping display of football, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have successfully secured their places in the semifinals of the Champions League after narrowly overcoming Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa in the quarterfinal second legs. The matches showcased remarkable individual performances, fierce competition, and a testament to the resilience of both winning teams.

Barcelona advanced with a 5-3 aggregate victory against Borussia Dortmund, despite suffering a 3-1 loss at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night. The match saw Serhou Guirassy of Dortmund shine brightly, netting a magnificent hat-trick that nearly turned the tide in his team's favor. Heading into the match with a commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg, Barcelona found themselves reeling as Dortmund's spirited performance tested their composure and resolve.

Dortmund struck first, with Guirassy converting a penalty in a panenka style just 11 minutes into the match, sending shockwaves through the Barcelona defense. The home side continued to apply pressure, and Guirassy doubled Dortmund's advantage early in the second half, putting them two goals clear and igniting hopes of a miraculous comeback. However, Barcelona did not remain silent for long. Fermin Lopez capitalized on a defensive error, forcing a crucial own goal from Ramy Bensebaini in the 62nd minute, which momentarily restored order for the visitors.

Despite this setback, Guirassy reignited Dortmund's hopes with his third goal in the 76th minute, showcasing his exceptional scoring ability. As the tension escalated, a potential equalizer from Julian Brandt was ruled out for offside, leaving Dortmund's dreams of advancement hanging by a thread. Barcelona, despite suffering their first competitive defeat of 2025, were able to hold on for the win, keeping their hopes of a remarkable treble alive, a feat that has not been achieved since they last won the Champions League in Berlin a decade ago.

Looking ahead, Barcelona will now face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the semifinals, and they enter this stage as the favorites to lift the trophy. Dortmund, on the other hand, can draw inspiration from their performance, especially from Guirassy, who has now scored 13 goals in the Champions League this season, making him the top scorer in the tournament.

Im incredibly proud of what we were able to achieve today, Guirassy remarked in a post-match interview with Amazon Prime. Barcelona are a formidable opponent, but we fought until the very end. We demonstrated our potential. Coach Hansi Flicks decision to keep his attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha on the pitch played a crucial role in maintaining Barcelona's offensive pressure.

Meanwhile, in another thrilling encounter, Paris Saint-Germain managed to hold off a spirited Aston Villa side, advancing with a 5-4 aggregate scoreline after a nail-biting second leg that ended 3-2 in favor of Villa. PSG had entered the match with a 3-1 advantage from the first leg and appeared to be in control early on. The visitors took the lead with two stunning goals from their dynamic full-backs, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, within the first 30 minutes, setting the stage for a potential comfortable qualification.

Aston Villa, undeterred, fought back valiantly. Youri Tielemans scored a crucial deflected goal in the 34th minute, injecting fresh hope for the home crowd at Villa Park. Following the halftime break, Villa ramped up their intensity, scoring twice in quick succession through John McGinn and Ezri Konsa, leaving PSG on the back foot and teetering on the brink of an upset.

Despite the onslaught from Villa, PSG's goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, delivered a series of heroic saves, thwarting attempts from Villas players and ensuring the Parisians could cling to their aggregate lead. I am immensely proud of my teammates and what we accomplished tonight, Konsa stated after the match. The two quick goals in the first half changed the momentum, and we showed immense character to come back. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough this time.

As PSG continues its quest for its first Champions League title, they will be looking to build upon this narrow escape in the semifinals against either Real Madrid or Arsenal. Both teams have demonstrated their prowess on the European stage, and the upcoming matches promise to deliver more exciting football as they vie for the coveted trophy.